The project aims to study the nocturnal migration of birds through the Iberian Peninsula, the archipelago of the Balearic Islands and the archipelago of the Canary Islands by observing the lunar disk (“moonwatching”).

The project aims to study the nocturnal migration of birds through the Iberian Peninsula, the archipelago of the Balearic Islands and the archipelago of the Canary Islands by observing the lunar disk (“moonwatching”).

The aim is to create and coordinate a network of volunteers who observe the moon during the full moons in the periods of migratory passage in spring (February to May) and autumn (July to November).

By means of a standardised protocol developed by the Swiss Ornithological Institute and already tested in other countries, the aim is to obtain information on migratory intensity in different parts of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, as well as migration directions and relative heights. From this information, an idea of the nocturnal migratory routes through the aforementioned areas will be obtained and the magnitude of birds in transit can be quantified.

The project includes the following actions:

• Creation of a network of observatories distributed throughout the Iberian migratory corridor (dissemination, training of coordinators, provision of material, communication channels).
• Night sampling during the spring and autumn 2010 migratory passages.
• Analysis of the data collected.
• Dissemination of the results of 2010, both in specialized and general media (two digital bulletins, project website, Migres magazine and other scientific and popular journals, as well as press and radio).